The Role of Judges in Ensuring Restorative Justice in Juvenile Criminal Cases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51903/9ekmys66Keywords:
Judge’s Role, Restorative Justice, Juvenile Criminal Cases, Child Protection, Socio-Legal ResearchAbstract
Children are considered a vulnerable group within the criminal justice system and therefore require special legal protection through approaches emphasizing recovery and child protection. This study aims to analyze the role of judges in ensuring the implementation of restorative justice in juvenile criminal cases in Indonesia, identify factors influencing judicial considerations, and evaluate the application of restorative justice in judicial practice. The research uses a qualitative method with an empirical juridical (socio-legal research) approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, document studies, and literature reviews involving 12 informants, including judges, advocates, correctional counselors, and child assistance officers. The findings indicate that judges play an important role in balancing child protection, legal certainty, and social recovery in juvenile criminal proceedings. The implementation of restorative justice is influenced by the child’s psychological condition, family support, social environment, and public pressure regarding punishment. This study contributes to the development of juvenile criminal law scholarship through a socio-legal approach that emphasizes integrating legal, social, and psychological aspects into judicial considerations to create a more humane and rehabilitative juvenile justice system.
References
Allyanisa, N. S. (2024). Kesesuaian Penjatuhan Pidana Denda Dengan Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2012 tentang Sistem Peradilan Pidana Anak dalam Tindak Pidana Persetubuhan oleh Anak ( Studi Kasus Putusan Pengadilan Negeri Karanganyar Nomor 4 / Pid . Sus-Anak / 2023 / PN . Krg ). 2(2).
Apriliawan, H., & Wirogioto, A. J. (2025). The Implementation of Restorative Justice in the Rehabilitation of Drug Offenders : A Case Study of Decision Number 7 / Pid . Sus / 2021 / PN . Tmt. 4(1), 27–37.
Ariefulloh, A., Nugroho, H., & Angkasa, A. (2023). Restorative Justice-Based Criminal Case Resolution in Salatiga , Indonesia: Islamic Law Perspective and Legal Objectives. 23(1), 19–36. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijtihad.v23i1.19-36
Aydin-cakir, A., & Ilter, E. (2025). International Review of Law & Economics When do Governments Attack the Judiciary? The Explanatory Power of Political Corruption. 82(March 2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irle.2025.106248
Bachri, N., Yunanda, R., & Ilham, I. (2023). Strengthening Reintegration through Social Capital : Learning from Aceh , Indonesia. 141–156.
Edin, E., Shofiana, A., Indar, I. J., Bone, K., Selatan, S., Surabaya, U., Surabaya, K., Timur, J., Makassar, K., Selatan, S., Info, A., Justice, R., & Criminal, J. (2025). The Effectiveness of Restorative Justice in Resolving Juvenile Criminal Offenses in Indonesia. 3(1). https://doi.org/10.51903/hakim.v3i1.2288
Flora, H. S. (2024). Effectiveness of the Implementation of Restorative Justice in the Juvenile Criminal Justice System.
Hakiki, M. R., Semendawai, A. H., Islam, U., Syafi, A.-, & Soedirman, U. J. (2026). Reformulation of the Legal Politics of Restorative Justice in Handling Minor Criminal Offenses under Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code Indonesia is Constitutionally Affirmed as a State Governed by The Rule of Law, As Explicitly Constitutional Provision Positions Law Not Merely as a System of Formal Rules But as a Primary Table 1. Comprehensive Mapping of Restorative Justice Regulations and Inter- Institutional Disharmony among Law Enforcement Agencies in Indonesia. 5(2), 75–91.
Isiaka, Odetunde Adeola et al. (2025). Examining the Effectiveness of Restorative Justice as an Alternative Approach to Traditional Punitive Measures in Handling Corruption Cases. 8(1), 102–110. https://doi.org/10.52589/AJLPRA-HPQ3O5QU
Kholid, M. (2026). Restorative Justice Efforts in Resolving Domestic Violence Crimes from the Perspective of Positive Law and Islamic Law. 5(1), 1–19.
Liu, J., & Palermo, G. B. (2009). Restorative Justice and Chinese Traditional Legal Culture in the Context of Contemporary Chinese Criminal Justice Reform. 7(1), 49–68.
Maharani, N., Pertiwi, P., Dewi, E., & Amrullah, R. (2024). Restorative Justice Paradigm as A Means In Solving Violent Crimes Against People or Goods. 3(2), 209–218.
Maslowsky, J., Buss, E., & Wray-lake, L. (2024). Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience The role (and limits) of Developmental Neuroscience in Determining Adolescents’ Autonomy Rights: The Case for Reproductive and Voting Rights. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 69(June), 101435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101435
Pettoello-mantovani, C., Zona, M., Scaltrito, F., Cammisa, I., Giardino, I., & Ferrara, P. (2025). International Legal Implications for Children in Conflict Zones. Global Pediatrics, 14(August), 100285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gpeds.2025.100285
Polii, D. J., Polii, V., Pembangunan, U., Manado, I., Manado, K., Pembangunan, U., Manado, I., Manado, K., Info, A., Groups, V., Aid, L., Barries, J., & Reform, L. P. (2025). Akses Keadilan bagi Kelompok Rentan: Studi Empiris Mengenai Hambatan Struktural dalam Sistem Peradilan. 3(1). https://doi.org/10.51903/perkara.v3i1.2330
Raymond, C. M., Anderson, C. B., Athayde, S., Vatn, A., Amin, A. M., Arias-arévalo, P., Christie, M., Cantú-fernández, M., Gould, R. K., Himes, A., Kenter, J. O., & Lenzi, D. (2023). An Inclusive Typology of Values for Navigating Transformations Towards a Just and Sustainable Future ☆. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 64(Ivic), 101301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2023.101301
Sabila, R. N., & Suwandono, A. (2025). Peran Hakim dalam Implementasi Konsep Restorative Justice pada Perkara Pidana dengan Perempuan dan Anak Berhadapan dengan Hukum. Jaksa: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Hukum dan Politik, 3(3), 52–64. https://doi.org/10.51903/285DZZ08
Setiawan, D. Y. (2018). Handling Of Minor Crime Cases ( Tipiring ) Through Restorative Justice as an Effort to Overcome Overcapacity of Prisoners. 1440–1444.
Sharpless, L., Kershaw, T., & Willie, T. C. (2022). SSM - Mental Health Associations between State-Level Restorative Justice Policies and Mental Health among Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence. SSM - Mental Health, 2(February), 100085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100085
Trang, P. . N. M. et al. (2023). International Journal of Education and Social Science Research. 6(4), 353–369.
Uhl, A., & Mamak, K. (2026). Are Sentencing Disparities Unavoidable? Lessons from Centralized Judicial Training. Journal of Criminal Justice, 102(December 2025), 102582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102582
Wagiman, W., & Jubaidi, D. (2024). Ultimum Remedium Principles: Realizing Restorative Justice for Children In Conflict With The Law. 18(3), 685–701.
Wahyuningsih, S. E., Mahmuhtarom, H. R., & Iksan, M. (2023). International Journal of Social Science And Human Research Implementation of Restorative Justice on Elderly Actors in Criminal Law Enforcement Based on Justice Value in Indonesia. 06(02), 1084–1091. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v6-i2-41
Wijsman, K., & Berb, M. (2022). What Do We Mean by Justice in Sustainability Pathways? Commitments, Dilemmas, and Translations from Theory to Practice in. 136(February), 377–386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.06.018
Yevhen Leheza et al. (2026). Interpretation of Regulatory and Legal Acts in Contemporary Contexts: Foreign Experience, Comparative Perspectives, and Pathways for Regulatory Reform. 5(1), 102–122.
Yuliana S P. (2024). Analisis Penetapan Itsbat Nikah terhadap Pasangan Perkawinan Siri dan Kepastian Hukum pada Anak Anjar Sri Ciptorukmi Nugraheni Sumber: SIPP Pengadilan Agama Boyolali Permintaan Itsbat Nikah di Pengadilan Agama Boyolali . 2(2).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sri YUlianingsih, Methodius Kossay
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
3.png)
